System for lowering and raising a hvac air vent

ABSTRACT

A system for lowering an air vent comprising: a reel; a cable system attached to the reel; and an air vent engaged at the end of the cable system, where the reel and the cable system enable a vertical adjustment of the air vent. Preferably, the air vent may seal a return air duct, where the air vent is with a frame opening of a ceiling. Further, the air vent may include a removable filter and is connected to a HVAC system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a system that lowers an air vent in atypical HVAC system to allow access thereto.

2. Description of Related Art

HVAC systems in both commercial and residential buildings include asystem of ducts that allow the flow of air in and out of the rooms ofthe particular building or residence. The duct system is a network ofducts that extend through the ceilings and interior walls of thebuilding. The duct system usually includes outlets that allow for theflow of air into the rooms of the building. Further a return duct isusually supplied that returns air from a particular room or area withinthe building. Typically the return duct includes a filter that must bemaintained over a course of time. Normally this return duct is in theceiling and requires a user to use a ladder or step stool in order togain access to the vent and perform the maintenance related to the airfilter. As a consequence, it would be advantageous to have a systemwherein that this return air vent could actually be lowered to avoid thenecessity of using a ladder or step stool to gain access to the filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for lowering an air ventcomprising: a reel; a cable system attached to the reel; and an air ventengaged at the end of the cable system, where the reel and the cablesystem enable a vertical adjustment of the air vent. Preferably, the airvent may seal a return air duct, where the air vent is with a frameopening of a ceiling. Further, the air vent may include a removablefilter and is connected to a HVAC system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a system for lowering and elevating an air vent inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an alternative system for lowering and elevating an airvent in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system that lowers a return air ventto allow access to the return air vent in a HVAC system. The systemaccording to the present invention includes a reel that is installed inthe duct system of the HVA system above the return air vent. The reelincludes a cabling system that attaches to the vent that covers thereturn air opening. This cable system allows the user to lower the ventthat encloses the filter on the return air vent. Once this vent islowered the user may easily gain access to the filter for maintenancepurposes. Once maintenance is complete the system returns the vent intoa sealed position over the opening of the return air duct.

In reference to FIG. 1, a system that lowers a HVAC vent according topresent invention is depicted. The system includes a reel 10 that ispowered by a motor, not shown, that turns and releases cables attachedto a vent 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the Vent 30 is in a lowered positionextending from cables 22 a, 22 b on each side of the vent 30. At leasttwo cables are contemplated for use in this system. These cables wraparound the reel 10 as shown in FIG. 1. A duct 15 is shown as the returnair duct that is sealed by the vent 30. Within the vent 30 is a filter32 that may be removed by a user. Further shown in FIG. 1, is a frameopening 20 that provides the opening for the return air duct 15. Duringuse the motor is activated that revolves the reel 10 to either lowercables 22 a, 22 b or alternatively retract the cables 22 a, 22 b to sealthe opening of the return air duct 15.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 2where the return air vent 15 is provided on a angled ceiling as shownwith the angled frame 25. This system of the present invention allowsfor the lowering of the vent 30 which contains filter 32 however oncethese cables 22 a, 22 b are retracted the vent 30 seals off the angledopening provided in the frame 25.

The present invention therefore provides a unique and effective means tovertically adjust an air vent in the ceiling of a HVAC system. Thissystem therefore alleviates the necessity for ladders or step stools inorder to access filters within the return air duct systems. The instantinvention has been shown and described in what it considers to be themost practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however,that departures may be made there from within the scope of the inventionand that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in theart. The instant invention has been shown and described in what itconsiders to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made there from within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for lowering an air vent comprising: a.a reel; b. a cable system attached to the reel; and c. an air ventengaged at the end of the cable system, where the reel and the cablesystem enable a vertical adjustment of the air vent.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1, where the air vent seals a return air duct.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1, where the air vent is with a frame openingof a ceiling.
 4. The system according to claim 1, where the air ventincludes a removable filter.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherethe air vent is connected to a HVAC system.